Ukiahi Juniors think pink to benefit local cancer resource center

When Ukiah High Junior class student, Ali Loyha, told the staff of the Cancer Resource Centers of Mendocino County (CRCMC) that Junior Class students were organizing a fundraising dinner to benefit our organization not only were we excited, we were impressed. Managing a fundraising event is no small feat, yet an important revenue source for a non-profit organization such as CRCMC: that busy high school students would take on such an endeavor was beyond our expectations of community support.

I interviewed Ali a week following the event and asked her how she and her classmates managed to pull off the successful fundraiser.

"I have no idea how I managed," she laughed, adding, "it's amazing to look back and think: how did I do this?"

She explained to me that it all began during a Homecoming Week meeting with other junior class students. Perhaps it was serendipitous that their class color happened to be pink (the designated color for breast cancer awareness) and that this was all falling during the month of October (Breast Cancer Awareness Month.)

The students who gathered that day seemed determined that rather than focus all their attention on inter-class competition, why not take the high road and incorporate a cause into their theme. They agreed that breast cancer awareness was a worthy cause and that they could easily incorporate pink ribbons onto their floats and backdrops. The notion of organizing a dinner to benefit a local non-profit, however, seemed more daunting, yet a handful of students agreed to take on the challenge. Thus was born Ukiah Pink!

Ali explained that classmate, Zoe Lazano, successfully secured the commitment of Barra Winery for the venue and a date of Sunday, Oct. 28.

Ali spirited Zoe along, eager to help in any way. Then Zoe passed the torch to Ali who suddenly found herself in the leadership role for Ukiah Pink! Ali became fast attached to her phone as she began networking in search of a caterer for the event: more good luck came her way when she landed Katrina from Potter Valley Cafe.

Ali procured Schats Bakery for the baked goods. She told me that a band had already committed and that tickets and posters had been ordered. Ali was on a roll; that is, until she received the tickets and flyers only to find that the dates were incorrect. And then the band had to cancel.

Undaunted, Ali spent two days editing each ticket including whiting out the name of the band. This is when she began to discover how supportive a community can be, for good things began to happen: local musicians, John and Andy Mattern and Ed Rhinehart stepped in to provide live music and people began showing up donating silent auction items, unsolicited.

Ali's learning curve about fundraising, however, would reach a crisis point for on the Monday prior to the event, not one single ticket had been sold, save for a few family members.

"I couldn't just show up with my family!" Ali exclaimed to me as she recounted her tale of trials and tribulations.

At this point, with the event date looming ever closer, Ali knew it was high time to rally her friends and classmates. Taylor Stophlet and Adrian Mata quickly responded to her plea for help. Many phone calls and good old-fashioned door to door solicitation later, by Sunday, Oct. 28th a whooping 80 tickets had been sold. And did I mention that their designated date competed with the S.F. Giants fourth and final game in the World Series sweep?

Well, not everybody was glued to their TV screen the night of Oct. 28th. Eighty happy participants were feasting within the lovely environs of Barra Winery, on a delicious meal provided by Potter Valley Cafe while enjoying the tunes that resonated from the talented John Mattern, Ed Rhinehart and Andy Mattern. Not a bad venue for a handful of Junior Class students. As it turned out, all auction items were sold and $3,000 was raised for local non-profit, CRCMC. Ali was asked to stand up and speak at the event. Now she and her classmates could relax and enjoy the fruits of their labors.

The staff of CRCMC would like to congratulate and thank the students of Ukiah High's Junior class for a job well done and for their support. We are also appreciative of Barra Winery, the Potter Valley Cafe, Schats Bakery, John Mattern, Ed Rhinehart, Andy Mattern, all individuals who donated auction items and to everyone who bought a ticket and supported this cause. Finally, and certainly not least, a special thanks to Ali Loyha, whose spirit and perseverance helped to facilitate a vision to reality.

The Cancer Resource Centers of Mendocino County have two offices to serve our communities: one located in Ukiah and one in Mendocino. CRCMC provides services to support, educate and guide people through cancer diagnosis and treatment. We're here so that no one faces cancer alone. All services are provided free of charge to men, women and children. For more information please call 467-3828 or visit our website at www.crcmendocino.org.

Claudia Crosetti is the Volunteer Coordinator for the Cancer Resource Centers of Mendocino County.